Circular loom



July 1, 1952 V' M- J. ANCE-|- CIRCULAR LOOM Filed Deo. 27, 1948 4 Sheetssheet l INVENToR V/Hg' MJA/reif Mg@ V. M. J. ANCET July 1, 1952 CIRCULARLOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27. 1948 wm, mM my y/B July 1 1952 v.M. J. ANcET l2,601,871

CIRCULAR LOOM Filed Dec. 2'7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 V. M. J. ANCET July1, 1952 CIRCULAR Loom 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 27, 1948 Patented July1, 1952 CIRCULAR LOOM Victor Marie Joseph Ancet, Lyon, FranceApplication December 27, 1948, Serial No. 67,341 In France April 25,1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires April 25,1964 9 Claims.

This invention relates to circular looms, which produce fabric intubular form by means of a shuttle moved along a circular path within ashed made of sheets of warp threads. In such looms, the driving meansfor the shuttle necessarily lie outside the shed and, accordingly, acton the shuttle through one sheet of threads of the shed. Heretofore, theshuttle and driving means have been connected by mechanical means orelse the shuttle has been made of magnetic material and held in placerelative to the driving means, so as to be propelled thereby, bymagnetic attraction. In prior circular looms, in which the shuttle andits driving means are connected mechanically, the warp threads in thesheet of the shed, through which the cooperating parts of the connectionact, are subjected to abrasion, which is liable to do damage to thethreads, particularly if they are of ne size. Also, in prior looms, inwhich the shuttles are driven either mechanically or magnetically, theshuttles are of complicated construction, so that they are expensive toproduce and dii'licult to insert into and remove from the shed.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a novel circularloom, which includes, among other features, a new shuttle assembly anddriving means therefor, the assembly comprising a shuttle and a frame,in which the shuttle is mounted and which includes a leading portion ornose preceding the shuttle and facilitating its movement through theshed and a trailing portion for guiding the weft thread issuing from theshuttle. The shuttle is formed at least in part of magnetic material, ishollow and has an external shape, whichris that of a surface ofrevolution and is preferably generally cylindrical, and is supportedwith its axis extending toward the fell of the fabric in the samegeneral direction as the warp threads in the shed. The weft threadpackage is carried within the interior of the shuttle and the thread isled through an axial opening in the top of the shuttle and through aguide eye in the trailing portion of the guide frame. The driving meansfor the shuttle assembly are mounted to rotate about the axis of theloom and include a plurality of rotatary stops and an electromagnet,which attracts the shuttle and holds it against the stops. The drivemeans lies on one side of one sheet of warp threads in the shed and,preferably, the side nearer the loom aXis in a vertical loom, and theshuttle and guide frame lie on the other side of the sheet. One or moreof the stops are positively driven and, as a result, the shuttle iscaused to rotate on its axis and thus rolls over the warp threads in thesheet of threads referred to.

In addition to the new features mentioned, the new loom includes novelmeans operating, in the event that the shuttle assembly encounters anobstruction in the shed, to free the assembly from its driving means,shut down the loom motor or other drive means, and apply a brake to stoprotation of the shuttle assembly drive means quickly. i

This aplication is a continuation-impart of my copending applications,Serial No. 610,436, filed August 13, 1945, now abandoned, and Serial No.34,085, filed June 19, 1948, now abandoned.- A related application isSerial No. 67,342, led December 27, 1948, now abandoned.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a View, partly in sideelevation and partly in vertical section, of a shuttle assembly used inthe loom of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the mode of operationof the shuttle assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation showing the shuttle assembly carrierof the loom;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the carrier and shuttle assemblyshowing, respectively, the normal position of the assembly and thedeflection of the frame of the assembly, when it encounters anobstruction in the shed, and the dislodgment of the assembly from thecarrier.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thinugh a modied form ofshuttle assembly; an

Fig. 8 is a view of the modified form of shuttle assembly in sideelevation.

The new circular loom comprises a central vertical shaft IU, which lieswithin a cylinder of warp threads Il supplied from a pair of beams andpassed upwardly through a reed l2. the fell of the finished fabric I3,the warp threads are separated by suitable heddle mechanism into innerand outer sheets |30., 13b, defining a shed I4 within which operates ashuttle assembly l5.

The shuttle employed in the new loom is hollow and has an externalshape, which is that of a surface of revolution. The shuttle has acentral zone of magnetic material and is preferably made of suchmaterial throughout. The shuttle comprises a hollow body I8, illustratedas being Below of cylindrical form, and closed at one end by an integralclosure plate |9. which is provided with a central pivot on its outerface and with a spindle 2|, which extends coaxially within the body.Preferably, the central zone lila of the body is of heavier wallthickness than the ends and the thickened zone is defined at its ends bycircumferential shoulders 22. The upper end of the body is closed by aremovable cap 23 of generally conical form threaded into the end of thebody. At its upper end, the cap is formed with a the belt and rotatesits spindle 4B and the rollers hollow boss 24, near the lower end ofwhich there is a circumferential shoulder 25. When the shuttle is inuse, it contains a bobbin 26, which is mounted on the spindle to rest ona circumferential enlargement 2|a at the lower end thereof and slightlyabove the inner face of closure I9. A supply of weft thread 2`| is woundon the bobbin. A frusto-conical sleeve 28 lined with felt or likematerial may be placed to rest upon the thread wound upon the bobbin toact as a brake.

The weft thread from the bobbin passes upwardly through the opening inthe hollow boss 24.

The frame, which forms part of the shuttle assembly in the constructionillustrated in Fig. l, comprises a base 2 9, which may be a straightlength of wire having a loop at one end, within which is mounted anannular bearing disc `33. The shuttle rests on the disc with its pivot2G entering the opening through the disc. The base 29 extends forwardlyfrom the shuttle a substantial distance and a pair of elements 3|, whichmay be wires, extend upwardly and rearwardly from the forward end of thebase and over the top of the shuttle. For convenience, the elements 3|may be a continuous length of wire, which is formed lwith a loop, thebight of which lies above the shuttle and carries an annular bearingdisc 32. The disc rests upon the shoulder at the top of the cap of theshuttle and the hollow boss 24 extends through the opening in the disc.A plate 33 is mounted for swinging movement on a crossbar 34 extendingbetween the elements 3| and a trolley 35 extends upwardly and rearwardlyfrom the plate and is provided with a weft thread guide 33 at its freeend. A spring 31 is connected at one end to the plate and at the otherend to a wire 3-8, which is connected to the base 2,9. The spring tendsto hold plate 33 with the trolley 34 in erect position,

as shown in Fig. 1, and counterclockwise swinging movement of thetrolley is permitted but is resisted by the spring. When the shuttle isto be inserted in or removed from the frame, the base 29 and members 3|are sprung apart sufiiciently to free disc on the base from pivot pin 23on the shuttle, after which the shuttle may be moved endwise to withdrawboss 24 from disc 32.

'I'he shuttle assembly is moved by a carrier in a circular path througha shed of warp threads, which is opened ahead of the assembly and closedbehind it by the heddle mechanism. The carrier comprises a sleeve 39fast on the shaft and providedwith upper and lower radial arms 49,between which is mounted an electromagnet 4| having a U-shaped core 42.The legs of the core extend radially outward beyond the ends of arms 49and lie' one above the other, their outer faces being concave. A pair ofbrackets 43, 44 are mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of arms 40,the brackets being longitudinally slotted and held in place by screws 45passing through the 43 mounted Vfast thereon.

In the operation of the loom, the shuttle assembly is placed in positionwith the shuttle bearing against rollers 48 on spindles 45, `Lil of thecarrier, the brackets 113, 44 being so adjusted that the surface of theshuttle lies close to but spaced from the outer ends of the core of theelectromagnet. The energization of the electromagnet causes it toattract and hold the shuttle in position, so that it is advanced withthe carrier, and the increased wall thickness of the central zone Ita ofthe shuttle increases the attractive effect. The distance lengthwise ofthe shuttle between shoulders 22 thereon is slightly less than thedistance between the opposed faces of the rollers on spindles 46, 41,and, when the shuttle assembly is placed in position, the thickened zone|3a of the shuttle lies between the upper and lower pairs of rollers.The assembly is then prevented from dropping downwardly by engagement ofthe lower shoulder '22 with the tops of the rollers of the lower pairand the shuttle assembly is advanced without being supported on thereed.

- A shaft 52 mounted in brackets 43, 44 is encircled by a spring 53connected to bracket 43 and the shaft and acting to swing the shaftcounterclockwise, when it is viewed from the top. Between its ends, theshaft carries a lever 54, on which a small roller 55 is mounted at oneend. The other end of the lever is connected by a rod 56 to an arm 5l ona shaft 58 mounted on an arm 59 fast on shaft lil. The shaft carries apawl 69, which may be swung by rocking of shaft 58 into contact withteeth on the inner face of a flat ring 3|, which lies between upper andlower friction rings 62 held stationary and pressed against ring 6| bysuitable means. VShaft 58 also carries a contact blade B3, which, uponswinging orL the shaft, is moved between spring contact members 64 on ablock of insulation 64a suitably supported so as to move with shaft Il).The contact members are in a circuit which, when established byinsertion of blade 63 between them, operates conventional loom stoppingmeans. Normally, when the shuttle assembly isV in place on the carrierwith the shuttle engaging rollers 48, the surface of the shuttle bearsagainst roller 55 and forces it backwardly, so that shaft 58 is held ina position with its pawl ybil free of the teeth of ring 5| and contactblade 63 out of contact .with the spring terminal member 64. If theshuttle assembly is displaced from the carrier, the shaft 52 is swung byits spring and swings shaft 58, so that the pawl B engages the teeth ofring 5| and the circuit through the loom stopping means is closed byinsertion of blade 63 between terminal members 64. The engagement of thepawl with ring 6| causes the carrier and loom shaft to berbraked, sothat the moving parts of the loom will promptly come to a stop.

When the shuttle assembly is in operating position in the shed, thelongitudinal laxis of the shuttle extends toward the fell of the goodsin the same general direction as the warp threads in the shed. The baseof frame l1 extends forwardly from the shuttle and the forward 'end ofthe base and the ends of elements 3| connected thereto form a nose,which leads the shuttle in its movement. The trolley 35 extendsrearwardly from the shuttle and the weft thread passing through theguide eye 36 lies close to the fell of the goods in position to bebeaten up. The shuttle is free to rotate on its longitudinal axis in theframe and the shuttle assembly and the carrier lie on opposite sides ofthe warp threads in the inner sheet I3a of the shed. During the rotationof the carrier with shaft I0, the rollers 48 on spindle 46 are caused torotate and this movement is imparted to the shuttle, so that it has aplanetary motion,` in which `it travels along a circular path concentricwith the loom shaft l0, and, at the same time, rolls over the threads inthe inner sheet of the shed. By making the shuttle in the form of ahollow body, the external shape of which is that of a surface ofrevolution, the shuttle is of simple construction and it may be readilycaused to roll over the warp threads so that abrasion of those threadsis avoided.

In the normal operation of the loom, the frame, which is free to pivoton the shuttle, is so held that it leads the shuttle, because of thedrag of the inserted weft thread on trolley 35. If a warp thread, suchas that designated lla (Fig. 5),' becomes broken, for example at the topof the shed, and drops down to become entangled across the other warpthreads as though it were a weft laid by the preceding shuttle at thebottom of the shed, it produces an obstruction in the shed, which isfirst encountered by the nose Ila of the frame of the shuttle assembly.When such a shed obstruction occurs, it is desirable to have the loomstopped at once and, when the nose of the assembly meets theobstruction, it is forced outwardly thereby and penetrates the warpthreads of the outer sheet |312` of the shed. A stationary ring 65having teeth 65a on its inner surface is mounted outside the shed insuch position that, when the nose Ila of the frame of the shuttleassembly is forced outwardly as described, the nose engages one of theteeth on the ring. The shuttle assembly is thereby arrested and, as thecarrier continues to move, the assembly is dislodged from the carrier.As soon as the shuttle moves away from rollers 48, shaft 52 is free tobe swung by its spring 53 and this results in the stopping of the loomand the braking of the moving parts thereof, as previously explained.

The shuttle assembly, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, comprises a shuttle 66,which includes a body 61, which has the normal external shape of asurface of revolution and is illustrated as being generally cylindricalin form. The body has a central zone of magnetic material and preferablyis made throughout of such material and has a central Zone 81a ofincreased wall thickn ness. The lower end of the body is closed by aplate 68, formed with a central opening, in which is seated a flangedbushing 69 of non-metallic material, such as impregnated fibrousmaterial. A tubular spindle 'lll extends upwardly from the closurewithin and coaxially of the body, the tubular portion of the bushingextending through the closure plate and into the spindle. The closureplate is formed with a circular row of openings 7|. The top of the bodyis closed by a cap '12, which may be frusto-conical form and isconstructed to telescope into the open end of the body. The cap hasopenings 13 in its inclined surface, which lie outwardly from the axisof the body a greater distance than `the openings 1I. The capgis formedwith a hollow boss 14, which is encircled by a flanged bushing 'I5 ofnon-metallic material and is held in place by a turned-over bead at theouter end of neck 14. The bushing is formed with a flange at its lowerend, which may be seated in a depression in the top of the cap aroundneck 'I4 and preferably has a conical upper bearing surface.

The frame of the shuttle assembly, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, includes abase 16, which may be of sheet metal of channel section and is providedadjacent one end with a pivot pin 11 rising from a flat disc on top ofthe base and receivable into the bushing 69 at the lower end of theshuttle. At its other end, the base carries a thin vertical plate 11',to which is pivotally attached an element 18 extending upwardly andrearwardly to overlie the topv of the shuttle. The element carries atrolley 19 extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and provided atits free end with a weft thread guide 80. The free end of element 18lies parallel to the base and has a central opening containing a bearingbushing 8l, into which the neck 14 of the shuttle With its bushing 'l5may be received. The base i6 and element 18 are connected by releasablemeans, which are illustrated as including a wire 82 attached to theupper end of element 18 and terminating in a loop 83. The base 15 of theframe carries a wire loop 84 interconnected with lcop 83, loop 84 beingformed with portions 34a, 852i of different height. Wire 82 is formedwith a kink 82a., so that its length may be increased by the flattening`of the kink. When loop 83 of wire 82 is engaged with the lower part Bdaof loop 84, the base and element 'F8 are held` in engagement with theends of the shuttle. When wire 82 is swung to bring its loop 83 withinthe higher portion 84h of loop 84, the base and element may be swungapart on their pivotal connection, so that the shuttle may be readilyremoved from the frame.

The weft thread 83 issuing from the shuttle through the opening in thehollow neck M passes through tensioning means 86 of conventionalconstruction mounted on the top of element 73.

The shuttle assembly shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is intended to be supportedin its movement along its circular path on thereed i2 of the loom and,to facilitate the movement of the assembly along the reed, the base 'I6of the frame may be provided with a roller 81, which is mounted on ahorizontal pivot 88 lying transverse to the base and in the axis ofrotation of the shuttle in the frame. In an alternative construction,the base is provided with a shoe in the form of a at disc 89 ofnon-metallic material, such as impregnated fabric. The disc may bemounted on base 'I6 by a ball and socket connection lying in the axis ofrotation of the shuttle or on a horizontal pin 98, which extendstransverse to the base and lies in the axis of shuttle rotation.

The shuttle assemblyy shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is moved about the axis ofthe loom in the same manner as the assembly shown in Fig. 1, that is,the assembly is held by magnetic attraction with the shuttle engagingthe rollers 48 at the outer end of the carrier. The frame leads theshuttle in the movement of the assembly and the plate T1 forms a nosewhich, upon encountering an obstruction in the shed, is forced outwardlybetween the threads f the, outer sheet 0f the Shed mit!v engagement,with the teeth of stop ring 6L As the assembly is moved along with thecarrier, the shuttle rolls on its longitudinal axis and the dispositionof the openings 'il and i3 is such that, in the rotationof the shuttle,a current of air is caused to pass through the shuttle by centrifugalaction. The air current tends to keep the interior of the shuttle freefrom lint, which otherwise might be carried into the cloth with the weftthread.

I claim:

l. In a circular loom, in which warp threads are separated into spacedsheets to form a shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a pathabout the'axis of the loom, a shuttle movable through the Shed and medeat leest in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttlebeing that of a surface of revolution, roll- 4ers rotatably mounted onthe carrier. an, electromagnet mounted on the carrier and operable toattract the shuttle against the rollers with one sheet of the shedtherebetween, the surface of revolution of the shuttle being rotatablein development on the said sheet and rollers with the axis of theshuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the same generaldirection as the Warp threads in the shed, whereby the shuttle rolls onthe said sheet and on the rollers as the shuttle rotates on its axis andwith the carrier, and means for moving the carrier along said path.

2. In a circular loom, in which Warp threads are separated into spacedsheets to form ak shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a pathabout the axis of the loom, a, shuttle movable through the shed and madeat least in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttlebeing that of a surface of revolution, an electromagnet mounted on thecarrier, and operable to attract the shuttle, rollers rotatablysupported on the carrier against which the shuttle is held by theelectromagnet, the surface of revolution of the shuttle being rotatablein development on the rollers with the axis of the shuttle extendingtoward the fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the Warpthreads in the shed, the threads in one sheet of the shed passingbetween the surface of revolution of the shuttle and the rollers as theshuttle is rotated on its axis with the carrier, means for moving thecarrier along said path, and means for rotating at least one of therollers and thereby aiding the shuttle to roll on its axis.

3. In a circular loom, in which warp threads are separated into spacedsheets to form a shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a pathabout the axis of the loom, a shuttle movable through the shed and madeat least in part of magnetic material, the external shape of the shuttlebeing that of a surface of revolution and the shuttle having spacedperipheral shoulders between its ends, an electromagnet mounted on thecarrier and operable to attract the shuttle, rollers rotatably supportedon the carrier against which the shuttle is held by the electromagnet,the surface of revolution of the shuttle being rotatable in developmenton the rollers with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell ofthe fabric in the same general direction as the warp threads in theshed, the rollers cooperating with the shoulders on the shuttle to limitaxial movement of the latter, the threads in one sheet of the shedpassing between the surface of revolution of the shuttle and the rollersas 8 the shuttle is rotated on its axis with the carrier, means formoving the carrier along said path, and means for rotating at least oneof the rollers and thereby aiding the shuttle to roll on its axis. Y

4. In a circular loom, in which warp threads are separated into spacedsheets to form a shed, the combination of a carrier movable in a pathabout the axis of the loom, a shuttle movable through the shed and madeat least in part Vof magnetic material, the shuttle comprising a hollowbody containing means for the support of a weft thread package andhaving an Vexternal shape which is that of the surface of revolution,and a cap having an opening for the passage of weft thread therethrough,an electromagnet mounted on the carrier and operable to attract theshuttle, rollers rotatably supported on the carrier against which theshuttle 'is held by the electromagnet, the surface of revolution of theshuttle being rotatable in development on the rollers with the axis ofthe shuttle extending toward the f ell of the fabric in the same generaldirection as the warp threads in the shed, the threads in one sheet ofthe shed passing between the surface of revolution of the shuttle andthe rollers as the shuttle rotated on its axis with the carrier, meansfor moving the carrier along said path, and means for rotating at leastone of the rollers and thereby aiding the sljuttle to roll on its axis.

5. In a circular loom, in which the warp threads are separated intospaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a'shuttle movablethrough the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, theexternal shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, acarrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, an electromagneton the carrier operable to attract the shuttle, means for rotating thecarrier, and means on the carrier, against which the shuttle is held bythe electromagnet with one sheet of the shed therebetween and with theaxis of the shuttle extending toward the fell of the fabric in the samegeneral direction as the warp threads on the shed, whereby the shuttlerolls on said sheet and on said means as the shuttle rotates on itsYaxis and with the carrier, said means engaging the shuttle on oppositesides of a plane passing through the axes of the shuttle and loom.

6. In a circular loom, in which the Warp threads are separated intospaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a shuttle movablethrough the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, theexternal shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, acarrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, an electromagneton the carrier operable to attract the shuttler, means for rotating thecarrienand a plurality of pairs of rollers mounted on the carrier,against which the shuttle is held by the electromagnet with one sheet ofthe shed therebetween and with the axis of the shuttle extending towardthe fell of the fabric in the same general direction as the wrap threadsin the shed, the axes of the rollers being parallel to the axis of theshuttle, whereby the shuttle rolls on said sheet and on said means asthe shuttle rotates on its axis and with the carrier.

7. In a circular loom, in which the Warp threads are separated intospaced sheets to form a shed, the combination of a shuttle movablethrough the shed and made at least in part of magnetic material, theexternal shape of the shuttle being that of a surface of revolution, a

carrier movable in a path about the axis of the loom, an electromagneton the carrier operable to attract the shuttle, means for rotating thecarrier, means on the carrier, against which the shuttle is held by theelectromagnet with the axis of the shuttle extending toward the fell ofthe fabric in the same general direction as the warp threads in theshed, and a frame mounted on the shuttle to pivot on the axis thereof,the frame having a nose extending forwardly from the shuttle at the endthereof remote from the fell and also having a trailing portion at theother end of the shuttle provided with a guide for weft thread leavingthe shuttle.

8. In a circular loom, in which the warp threads are separated intospaced sheets to form a shed and the Woven fabric is heldin cylindricalform, the combination of a shaft mounted coaxially of the fabriccylinder, a carrier mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, anelectromagnet mounted on the carrier outwardly from the shaft, aplurality of rollers on the carrier engaging the warp threads of theinner sheet of the shed, a shuttle made at least in part of magneticmaterial and lying within the shed and held against the rollers by thepull of the electromagnet, the shuttle being of the external shape of asurface of revolution and being held with its axis extending parallel tothe axis of the shaft,

and means for rotating at least one of the rollers and thereby rotatingthe shuttle to cause it to roll on its axis over the warp threads of theinner sheet of the shed.

9. In a circular loom, in which the warp threads are separated intospaced sheets to form a shed 10 and the woven fabric is held incylindrical form, the combination of a shaft mounted coaxially of thefabric cylinder. a carrier mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, anelectromagnet mounted on the carrier outwardly from the shaft, a pair ofspindles mounted for rotation on the carrier adjacent the Warp threadsof the inner sheet of the shed with their axes parallel to the axis ofthe shaft, upper and lower rollers mounted on each spindle, and ashuttle made at least in part of magnetic material and lying within theshed and held against the rollers by the pull of the electromagnet, theshuttle being of the external shape of a surface of revolution and heldwith its axis parallel to the axis of the shaft.

VICTOR MARIE JOSEPH ANCET,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 365,216 Winckler June 21, 1887494,108 Lombard Mar. 21, 1893 628,093 Herold July 4, 1899 694,128 BrownFeb. 25, 1902 '702,281 Brown June 10, 1902 2,419,437 Bricout Apr. 22,1947 2,433,824 Ancet Jan. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date'76,105 Germany July 12, 1894 327,099 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1930606,352 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1948

